Alluaudia | |
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Alluaudia procera | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Caryophyllales |
Family: | Didiereaceae |
Subfamily: | Didiereoideae |
Genus: | Alluaudia (Drake) Drake |
Species | |
6, see text |
Alluaudia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Didiereaceae. There are six species, all endemic to Madagascar.[1]
Most occur in the southwestern subarid forest-thicket vegetation of the island.[2]
Species of Alluaudia are dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants.[3] Spines are arranged around the leaves as a defense against herbivores. The spines are several meters above the ground, and probably evolved in response to herbivory by now-extinct lemurs, such as Hadropithecus. Several lemur species living today feed heavily on Alluaudia, such as the ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) and the white-footed sportive lemur (Lepilemur leucopus).[4]
Species
Image | Scientific name | Distribution |
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Alluaudia ascendens (Drake) Drake 1903 | Madagascar |
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Alluaudia comosa (Drake) Drake 1903 | SW Madagascar. |
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Alluaudia dumosa (Drake) Drake 1903 | southern coastal Madagascar |
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Alluaudia humbertii Choux 1934 | Madagascar |
Alluaudia montagnacii Rauh 1961 | Madagascar | |
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Alluaudia procera (Drake) Drake 1903 | Madagascar |
References
- ^ Alluaudia. Madagascar Catalogue. eFloras.
- ^ Schatz, G., et al. Modeling of endemic plant species of Madagascar under climate change. In: Assessing the Impact of Climate Change on Madagascar's Livelihoods and Biodiversity. Conference. Antananarivo, Madagascar, 28 January 2008.
- ^ Applequist, W. L.; Wallace, R. S. (2000). "Phylogeny of the Madagascan endemic family Didiereaceae". Plant Systematics and Evolution. 221 (3–4): 157–166. Bibcode:2000PSyEv.221..157A. doi:10.1007/BF01089291. S2CID 33830803.
- ^ Crowley, B. E. and L. R. Godfrey. (2013). Why all those spines?: Anachronistic defences in the Didiereoideae against now extinct lemurs. South African Journal of Science 109(1-2), 1-7.
External links
- GRIN Species Records of Alluaudia. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).
- http://worldofsucculents.com/how-to-grow-and-care-for-alluaudia/